Overhead carrier



Nov. 29, 1932. E L E' 1 1,889,610

OVERHEAD CARRIER Filed March's. 1929 4 SheecsSheet 1 lax/en 790 Nov; 29, 1932. :A, NELLER OVERHEAD CARRIER Filed March 9, 1929 4 Sheets1-Sheet 2 Nov. 29, 1932. A. H. NELLER OVERHEAD CARRIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 9. 1929 [In en for WflM Nov. 29, 1932. NELLER 1,889,610

OVERHEAD CARRIER Filed March 9, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mm I! E mi m 2 FIG/Z /I; van far- W 44. w

Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT H. KELLER, F EAIRFIELD, rowaassrGnoR r0 'rHE LOUDEN MACHINERY COMPANY, or FAIRFIELD, IOWA, A CORPORATION or IOWA 'ovERHEAn CARRIER Application. filed March 9,

My invention relates to carriers adapted to elevate loads of hay, or other material, to a certain height and then run along an overhead trackway tov carry the loads to the place of deposit, a part of the trackway extending beyond the place of deposit and being provided with a stop mechanism to which the carrier islocked while the load is being elevated, and the tackle with which the load is elevated being provided with means, preferably adjustable, to unlock the carrier from the trackway when the load has reached the properheight, thus permitting the carrier to be drawn along the trackway to the place of deposit. In carriers of this type, it is usual that means be used to grip the elevating tackle, which is generally a rope running through pulleys and over a sheave in the carrier frame, so as to hold the load in its elevated position and thus prevent it from dropping down while the carrier is traversing the trackway. In this construction the gripping means is hard on the elevating rope, or even on a cable if it should be used instead of a rope, and one object of my invention is to overcome this defect.

WVith this object in View, my invention contemplates using a short piece of straight link chain to which preferably a cable is connected, and then, forming a sheave in the carrier frame over which the elevating tackle passes with a deep central groove to fit the cable and also the contacting edges of those chain links at right angles to the axis of the carrier sheave while the edges of the links parallel to the axis of the carrier sheave will rest on the circumferential edges of the sheave. Also, in addition to this, my inven tion further contemplates forming inwardly projecting portions on the inner sides ofthe groove in the carrier sheave, which projections are adapted to catch and hold the parallel links of the cha n lying flat 'against'the sheave, locking means also being provided to catch and hold the sheave from turning backward and letting'th'e load drop while the carrier is traversing the trackway. My

invention also consists of additional features described in the specification and set forth 59 in the claims.

1929. Serial No. 345,726.

In'the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side View of a carrier and a portion of the trackway upon whlch it runs, the elevating pulley blocks connected therewith being slightly turned to one side to show them to better advantage. Fig. 2 is the reverse side view of the same, the trackwa and part of the carrier frame and the pul ey blocks being omitted to conserve space.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the carrier and trackway with the'near side of the carrier frame removed and some portions broken away, the carrier being in unlocked position. Fig. 4 is the same, except that the carrier is shown in locked position.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the carrier and a transverse section of the trackway, viewing it from the lefthand end of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the same. V

Fig. 7 is a view of one of the sides of the carrier frame viewed from the interior of the carrier. i

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the latch member.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of what will be described as the lock lever.

Fig. 10 is an edge view of the carrier sheave.

Fig. 11 is the top view of a bar to which the free end of the chain part of the elevating tackle'is secured.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view of the connection of the chain and cable.

Fig. 13, 14 and 15son sheets 4, 2 and 3 respectively, are detailed views which will be explained hereafter.

Referring to the drawings, these show a truck 15, on each end of which are journaled wheels 16, adapted to run on the track 17. The truck 15 is composed of two side castings 15A bolted together, forming a support for a swivel head on the lower part of the truck in which the carrier frame swivels, asis well known in the art.

The carrier frame consists of two members, 18 and 19, which are bolted together, the upper parts of which form a head to swivel in the truck frame. Between the members 18 and 19 a carrier sheave 20 is journaled upon a bolt 21, extending through the carrier (ill frame. For elevating tackle, short length of chain 22, and a rope or preferably a cable 23 secured at one end by a connecting member 24. The tackle passes over the top of the sheave and downwardly around pulley blocks 25, the other, or free end of the chain being secured in a slotted opening of a bar 26.

The sheave 20 has a deep central groove 27, in which the cable 23 fits, and the groove also accommodates those links of the chain 22, the plane of whose edges are at right angles to the aXis of the carrier sheave. The sheave 20 is also provided with oppositely disposed projections 28 formed on the lnner sides of the groove in the sheave as shown in Fig. 10. Between each pairof pro ections and the succeeding pair, shoulders 29 are formed on the sides of the groove, and a link of the chain, having edges lying in a plane parallel to the axis of the carrier sheave, 1s adapted to fit between the succeeding pairs of projections, the sides of the l nks resting on the shoulders 29. The projections 28 hold I employ a the chain on the rim of the sheave and prevent the chain from slipping in the groove of the sheave. The sheave 20 is also provided with ratchet wheels 30, placed on opposite sides of the sheave, preferably casting the ratchet wheels integral with the sheave. Hooks 31 are formed in theends of the pulley blocks to provide for slings for hay, which are not shown, but are well known to the art.

' A lever 32, having one end bifurcated, is pivoted at the bifurcated ends to the sldes of the carrier frame by any suitable means, such as a bolt 33, the bifurcated ends e rtending over the sheave 20. Pawls 34 are plvoted on each of the inner sides of the bifurcated ends of the lever 32, in a manner to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheels 30, which are on the sides of the sheave 20. To hold the pawls in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheels when the load is to be held in an elevated position, coiled springs 35 may be used, one end of the spring being secured to lug 35A on the pawl and the other end of the spring it attached to an eye 36 on the bifurcated end of the lever 32. Stops 37 are formed on the bifurcated ends to limit the downward movement of the pawls, as shown in Figure 13, which is a partial view of one of the bifurcated ends of the lever. A guide member 38 affixed to the central part of the lever 32 between the bifurcated ends, guides the chain and prevents it from slipping off from the sheave. Rigidly affixed to one of the bifurcated ends of the lever is a casting 39 having an end extending at right angles to the balance of the casting with an opening 39A therein, Fig. 14 being a side view of the casting.

The bar 26 is pivotally secured at one end of the carrier frame 18 and the opposite end projects through the opening 394. in the casting 39. The bar 26 sustains the weight of the load carried, the free end of the chain 22 being secured in the slotted opening of the bar 26 by passing a bolt 26A through the sides of the slotted opening of the end link of the chain, as shown in Fig. 11, which is a top view of the bar 26. It was formerly the practice with carriers equipped with rope draft members. to secure the free end of the rope direct to the straight end of the lever 26, so that sufficient weight would be provided on a bearing member attached to the lever, in a manner similar to that of the guide member 38, to hold the rope from slipping on the sheave and the weight of the load caused undue wear on the rope and strain on the working mechanism of the carrier. With my device, the weight of the load is carried on and on one of the bifur the pivot of the bar 26 cated ends of the lever adjacent to its pivot point, so that wear on the draft member is ehmlnated and the strain on the working mechanism of the carrier is greatly lessened. H Secured to the track 1(, 1s a stop member 40 having spaced apart lugs 41 and 42 proectmg downwardly therefrom.

The carrier frames 18 and 19 are each provided on their inner sides with a slantingly groove 43 and a horizontal groove disposed or opening 44, as shown in member (Fig. 8) having two lugs 45.4 on each of its sides, is positioned between the frames 18 and 19 and the lugs 45A are shaped Figure 7. A latch to fit in the grooves 43 and 44 and move foru v ward and back therein. The groove or openmg 44 1S closed at the ends, which limits the mocyement of the lug 45A inserted therein an member 45. apart upwardly projecting lugs 46 and 47, the lug 46 being partially rounded so that the carrier may be swiveled on the track if desired. The lug 46 is so arranged that it 0011- 3;?

tacts with the lug 41 on the stop member and cannot pass beyond as shown in Figures 3 and 4. An opening 48 is made in the lower part of the latch member through which the straight end of the locking lever 32 is inserted.

It will thus be seen that when the carrier approaches the stop, as shown in Fig. 3, the lug 46 on the latch member will contact with the lug 41 on the stop member, causing the thereby limits the movement of the latch The latch member has spaced tion, and as a consequence, the straight end of the lever 32 is raised upwardly when the locking member is in locked position. When this occurs, the lever 32 will also raise the pawls 34 so that they do not contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheels 30, thereby allowing the sheave to rotate on the bolt 21. When the locking member is not in locked position, the straight end of the lever 32 is in a lowered position, at which time the pawls 34 engage the teeth in the ratchet wheels 30 so that the sheave cannot move backward, but can move forward. 7

It is necessary that the locking member be held in fixed position while the load is being elevated, otherwise the carrier would movealong the trackwa-y when a pulling force was applied on the chain and cable and the load could not be raised, and for this purpose, I pivotally attach a yoke 49 to the bolt 21, the yoke being supported from the carrier frameby a bar 50. The upper end of the bar is formed with an extended portion at right angles to the remainder of the bar, and also has a downwardly extended portion 51 (Fig. 15) and is adapted to fit over the carrier frame 19, the portion 51 fitting into an o ening 52 in the groove 43, and obstructing tne groove so that the lug 45A cannot move therein. When the carrier is in the position shown in Fig. 4, it will be noted that the portion 51 has obstructed the groove 43 so that the locking member cannot move in the groove and the carrier is therefore held in locked position and cannot move forward or backward.

To release the carrier, the bar is so arranged that upon the yoke 49 being raised, the bar moves upwardly, thereby raising the portion 51, so that the groove 43 is unobstructed, and the lug 45A can then move downwardly in the groove. A pulling force being exerted on the chain and cable, the carri er will move forward and the locking mem her will slide in the grooves 43 and 44 and come to the position shown in Fig. 3, where in the lug 47 passes below the lug 41 on the stop member, permitting the carrier to move along the trackway. The locking member 45 has a portion of its upper surface raised, as indicated by the numeral 53. V Extending outwardly from the portion 51 is an arm 54, which is adapted to contact with and pass along the raised surface portion 53. After the load has been deposited, the carrier is re turned to the stop for another load and as the lug 46 contacts with the lug 41, the locking member 45 is drawn into the position shown in Fig. 4. In doing this, it is necessary that the portion 51 be raised to allow the lug 45A to pass along the groove 43. This is accomplished by the arm 54 passing along the raised surface 53. As the locking member moves upwardly to the locked position, the surface 53 forces the projection 51 upwardly and this, in turn, raises the member 51 so that the groove 43 is unobstructed, and the lug 45A moves along thegroove, and after it is passed beyond the opening 52, the member 51 returns to its former position. One end of a coil spring 55 is attached to the bar 50 in any suitable manner, and the other end to the carrier frame, to hold the member 51 in the opening 52 when in normal position. I preferably employ a hooked stud 56 on the bar 50, on which one end of the spring is connected, and the lower end of the spring is secured to a stud 57 formed on the carrier frame 19'.

I provide a member 58 for guiding the chain 22- to the carrier sheave 20 and keeping it from interfering with the free end of the chain secured to the bar 26. It also serves to raise the yoke 49 when the pulley blocks are pulled up against the member 58. I place a swivel in the free end of the chain (not shown in the drawings) as it facilitates straightening the chain should it become twisted. An. eye 59 to which a rope 59A may be attached, is formed in the carrier frame for the purpose of pulling the'carrier back to the stop after the load has been discharged. (Figs. 3 and 4.)

When my carrier is used in a barn having a center drive, I it may be desirable to re lease the carrier before the load has been completely raised to the carrier frame, and for this purpose I have provided an eye 60 on the yoke 49 to which the end of a rope 60A may be secured. (Fig. 1.) The rope is then passed over a small sheave 61 on the carrier frame, and by pulling on the rope 60A, the yoke 49 is raised upwardly and the bar 50 is also raised, thereby releasing the locking member, as described herein, when the carrier is thus released, it is necessary that the length of the chain be increased, so that the chain links are in contact with the sheave 20, to prevent the cable from slipping in the groove and dropping the load prematurely.

The chain 22 may be connected to the cable 23 in any suitable manner provided the connection will pass over the sheave 20. I provide a member 24, having an opening at one end in which the end of the cable 23 is inserted, and after this has been done, the end is unravelled and soldered into the member 24, so that it cannot be pulled apart. The opposite end of the member is provided with a transverse opening in which the end link of the chain is placed and is secured to the member by passing a rivet through the sides of the opening and the link of the chain. A roller 62 is journaled in the carrier frame to assist in guiding the chain and cable over the sheave.

' Assuming that the carrier is in locked position as shown in Fig. 4, the chain and cable can freely pass over this carrier sheave 20 in either direction, and the pulley blocks can be lowered and attached to the load to be raised.

After this has been done, a pulling force is applied to the cable and the pulley blocks are drawn upwardly, thereby raising the load. The strain of the pulling force on the cable will cause the chain links to properly engage the groove and shoulders on the sheave when the chain first comes in contact with the sheave. When the load is raised sulficiently, the blocks contact with the guide member 58 and bear upwardly against it, thereby raising the yoke 49, which in turn moves the bar upwardly, releasing the latch member 45, so that it passes along the grooves 43 and 44, as heretofore explained, and assumes the position shown in Fig. 3, as the carrier starts along the trackway. The lever 32 is lowered when the locking member is released and the pawls 3st engage the ratchet wheels 30 on the sheave, so that the sheave cannot rotate except in a forward direction. In this position, the chain is in the groove of the carrier sheave and the chain cannot slip backward so that the load is held in raised position. The force on the cable continues to be applied, and the carrier moves along the trackway until the position is reached where the load is to be dropped, at which time the pulling force on the cable is removed. After this has been done, the carrier is returned to the stop by means of the rope 59A. where the operation is repeated.

IVhat I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In elevating carriers adapted to run on an overhead trackway and convey elevated loads, carrier frame, a sheave mounted on the frame having a ratchet on its side, elevating tackle comprising a chain and a flexible member of stranded material and of substantially uniform cross section. secured thereto to pass over the sheave, said sheave having a groove to receive the flexible stranded member, locking means comprising a latch member slidably mounted in the carrier frame and a movable member having a pawl mounted thereon engageable with said ratchet to hold the sheave from rotating backwards, and means associated in fixed relation with the groove of the sheave for holding the links of the chain thereon when the sheave is locked, whereby the load is held in elevated position.

2. In a device of the character described, a carrier frame, a sheave mounted in the frame having a ratchet on its side, elevating tackle comprising a chain and a flexible member of strandedmaterial and of substantially uniform cross section secured thereto to pass over the sheave, said sheave having a groove to receive the flexible stranded member, locking means comprising a latch member slidably mounted in the carrier frame and a movable member having a pawl mounted thereon engageable with said ratchet to hold the sheave from rotating backwards, and projections formed in fixed relation with the groove of the sheave to hold the chain in contact therewith and prevent it from slipping in the groove.

3. In a device of the character described, a carrier frame, a SlIGEUG mounted in the frame having a ratchet on its side, elevating tackle to pass over the sheave comprising a straight link chain and a flexible member of stranded material and of substantially uniform cross section secured thereto, means comprising a latch member slidably mounted in the carrier frame and a movable member having a pawl mounted thereon engageable with said ratchet for locking the sheave from rotating in a backward direction, said sheave having a central groove to receive the flexible stranded member and to admit those links of the chain whose sides are in a plane at right angles to the axis of the sheave, and having shoulders in fixed relation with resaect to the move to receive those links whose sides are in planes parallel to the axis of the sheave, and projec tions in the groove on the sheave adapted to hold the links of chain and prevent the chain from slipping backward when the sheave is locked.

4-. In a device of the class described, a carrier frame, a sheave in the frame of the carrier provided with ratchet wheels on its sides, elevating tackle to pass over the sheave comprising a straight link chain and a flexible member secured thereto, a lock lever having one end bifurcated and addling the sheave, pawls carried on the bifurcated ends of the lever for engaging the ratchet wheels on the sheave to hold the sheave from rotating backwards, said sheave having a central groove to admit those links of the chain whose sides are in a plane at right angles to the axis of the sheave, and having shoulders to receive those links Whose sides are in planes parallel to the axis of the sheave, and projections in the groove on the sheave adapted to hold the links of chain and prevent the chain from slipping backward when the sheave is locked.

5. In a device of the class described, a carrier frame, a sheave in the frame of the carrier provided with ratchet wheels on its sides, elevating tackle to pass over the sheave comprising a chain and a cable secured thereto, projections formed in the groove of the sheave to hold the chain on the sheave and prevent it from slipping in the groove, a lock lever having a bifurcated end straddling the sheave, pawls on the bifurcated ends of the lever for engaging the ratchet wheels on the sheave to prevent the sheave from rotating backwards, a latch member having engagement with the opposite end of the lock lever, and upwardly extended spaced apart lugs, a fixed stop member on the trackway having spaced apart lugs extending downwardly, the lugs on the latch member being adapted to coact with the lugs on the stop member and actuate the latch member and lock lever, whereby the sheave is prevented from rotatingable by said pawl and rotatable with said robackwards, and the load is held in elevated position when the carrier is passing along the trackway.

6. A hoisting and conveying construction comprising an overhead track, a carriage traveling on said track, a flexible load sup porting member, a rotatable member on said carriage over which said flexible member passes, releasable means slidably mounted in the carriage for retaining said carriage against movement along said track, means controlled by the raising of the load for releasing said releasable means, means for pre- Venting slippage between said rotatable member and said flexible member, means for holding said rotatable member against rotation in a direction to lower the load, and means whereby the releasing of the retaining means causes said holding means to become operative to prevent the load from being lowered while the carriage is traveling, and whereby when the carriage is returned, the reengagement of said retaining means causes said holding means to become inoperative to permit the load to be lowered.

7 A hoisting and conveying construction comprising a carriage for traveling on a track, a flexible load supporting member, a rotatable member on said carriage over which said flexible member passes, releasable means slidably mounted in the carriage for retaining said carriage against movement along said track, means controlled by the raising of the load for releasing said means, means for I preventing slippage between said rotatable member and said flexible member, means for holding said rotatable member against rotation in a direction to lower the load, means whereby the releasing to said retaining means causes said holding means to become operative to prevent the load from being lowered while the carriage is traveling, and whereby when the carriage is returned, the re-engagement of said retaining means causes said holding means to become inoperative to permit the load to be lowered.

8. A hoisting and conveying construction comprising a carriage mounted to travel on a track, a flexible load-supporting and hoisting member, a rotatable member on said carriage over which said flexible member passes, said flexible member comprising a chain portion and a stranded portion of substantially uniform cross-section, said rotatable member having a groove for receiving the stranded portion, and a portion having an irregular formation for engaging the chain toprevent slippage thereof, means for preventing loadlowering rotation of said rotatable member when the chain is engaged by the rotatable member, thereby holding the load elevated, said preventing means comprising a look lever movably mounted on the carriage, a pawl mounted on said lever, and a ratchet engagetatable member and a latch member adapted to raise the lock lever and thereby disengage the pawl from the ratchet, thus permitting the rotatable member to be rotated in loadlowering direction.

9. A hoisting construction comprising a carriage for travel on a track, a chain, a rotatable member over which said chain passes, having an irregular formation to prevent slippage of the chain thereon, a ratchet rotatable with said rotatable member, a pawl co-operating with said ratchet to prevent lowering movement of the rotatable member,

a lock lever on which said pawl is pivotally mounted, movable to move saidv pawl into and out of operative relation with respect to said ratchet, and a latch member slidably mounted in the carriage for actuating the lock lever.

10. A hoisting and conveying construction comprising a carriage mounted to travel on a track, a latch on said carriage for engagement with a keeper on said track, a rotatable member mounted on said carriage, a loadelevating chain passing over said rotatable member, said rotatable member having an irregular formation for preventing the slippage of the chain thereon, a ratchet secured to the rotatable member for preventing loadlowering rotation of said member to hold said load elevated, and a lock lever having a pawl pivoted thereon to co-operate with the ratchet, said lock lever adapted to be actuated by the latch in its latching movement for rendering said rotation-preventing means ineffective, thus permitting the rotating member to be rotated in a lowering direction.

ALBERT H. NELLER. 

